Fence charging device



May 28, 1940. c. GALLOT Er AL 2,202,691

FENCE CHARGING DEVI CE Filed July 9. 1957 ATTORNEY.

Patented May 28, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application July 9, 1937, Serial Nb. 152,704

18 Claims.

This invention relates primarily to charging devices for electric fences, although certain features thereof are also applicable to other uses.

It has been found that a fence carrying a shock-producing electric charge provides an effective and reliable barrier for cattle and other livestock, and that such a fence may be erected most economically, since a single wire, properly charged, may alone be relied upon to confine the stock. It has also been found that brief, highpotential charges, recurring at spaced intervals, renders the fence quite eflective without subject ing the animals to the danger of electrocution which might otherwise result from a continuous charge.

We have also found that the duration of each charge may be reduced to a substantially irreducible minimum without impairing the effectiveness of the fence, thereby permitting a substantial reduction in the electric energy consumed.

One object of the present invention is to improve the construction, operation and reliability of charging devices for electric fences and the like.

Another object isto provide an improved device for the intermittent charging of electric fences which shall be proof against maintaining a charge of death-producing duration.

Another object is to provide an electric charging device which will reliably function to produce intermittent electric charges of minimum duration.

Another object is to provide a battery fed electric charging device capable of producing intermittent high potential charges over long periods of time.

Another object is to provide improved means for energizing and controlling a battery fed transformer.

Other objects and advantages will appear, ex-

pressed or implied, from the following description of an electric charging device embodying the present invention.

In the accompanying drawing- Figure l is a diagrammatic view of an electric fence charger constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

The charging device selected for illustration is controlled by a reciprocating member intermittently driven in one direction by a power actuat'ed impeller which, in turn, is rendered active by each return movement of the member in the 66 opposite direction.

The reciprocating member shown comprises a ball I0 mounted to roll freely up and down an inclined track, preferably formed by a pair of fixed parallel rods II, upon which the ball is loosely confined by a similar pair of rods I2 above it.

The power actuated impeller shown comprises a lever I3, rockably supported at one end upon a stationary fulcrum pin I4, and. having a driving head I5, preferably of rubber, at its opposite 10 end. The head I5 is disposed adjacent the lower end of the track within the range of movement of the ball ID. The lever I3 is yieldably retained in retracted position, preferably against an adjustable stop screw I6, by an appropriate spring 5 I1, and is actuated in a manner to drive the ball upwardly along its track II by any appropriate power means, suclr as an electromagnet I8.

In this instance, the electromagnet I8 is energized by a battery I9 or other source of electrical 20 energy through an appropriate circuit 20 controlled primarily by a normally open switch, in cluding contacts 2| and 22, which is momentarily closed by each return movement of the ball III downwardly along its track II. Contact member 25 2! is shown mounted upon and insulated from the lever I3, and the coacting contact 22 is shown carried by a resilient arm 23 having its lower end fixed to and insulated from the lever I3 and its upper free end projecting into the path of move- 30 ment of the ball III in advance of the driving head I5 of the lever.

The arrangement is such that upon each return movement of the ball I0 down its track II, the arm 23 is flexed by impact of the ball to close 35 the circuit 20 through the contacts 2I and 22 and thereby energize the electromagnet I8. When this occurs, the lever I3 is actuated by the electromagnet to effect a power stroke, causing the head I5 thereof to deliver a driving impulse to 40 the ball, and thereby causing the ball to roll up its inclined track a distance dependent upon the effectiveness of the stroke. It will of course be understood that the instant the ball leaves the head I5, the contacts 2| and 22 separate, the 46 'electromagnet is de-energized, and the lever I3 returns to the retracted position shown where it remains until the contacts 2| and 22 are again closed by impact of the ball II] on its return stroke. 50

The duration of each operating cycle is of course determined by the distance traveled by the ball III which may be regulated invarious ways. In the device shown for instance this may be regulated by varying the length and therefore the said switch having a vibratory contact set into vibration by the closing of said switch, and power actuated means for intermittently closing said switch.

11. In an intermittent charger for an electric circuit, the combination of a transformer having primary and secondary coils, means including a switch closeable to energize said primary coil, said switch including a contact mounted to vibrate when closed to thereby set up high frequency fluctuations in said primary coil, and power actuated means for intermittently closing said switch.

12. In a device of the character described the combination of a guide, a ball adapted to roll back and forth along said guide, a striker element arranged to drive said ball in one direction along said guide, and means including an element non-responsive to the static weight of said ball but moveable in response to impact of said ball thereagainst for actuating said striker.

13. In a device of the character described, the combination of a guide, a ball adapted to roll back and forth along said guide, a striker disposed at one end of said guide for driving said ball in one direction along said guide, an electromagnet for actuating said driver, and switch means non-responsive to the static weight of said ball but actuated by impact of said ball thereagainst for energizing said electromagnet.

14. In a device of the character described, the combination of a reciprocable member, an inclined guide therefor, a striker disposed adjacent the lower end of said guide for driving said member upward along said guide, an electromagnet for actuating said striker, switch means for controlling said electromagnet, and an element nonresponsive to the static weight of said member but actuated by impact of said member thereagainst for momentarily closing said switch.

15. In a device of the character described the combination of a reciprocating inertia member, a reciprocable driver therefor, means controlled by movement of said member in one direction for effecting a driving and return stroke of said driver in a manner to drive said member in an opposite direction, and an electric circuit controlled by movement of said driver.

16. In a device of the character described the combination of a reciprocable striker, actuating means therefor operable to efiect a driving and return stroke of said striker, an electric circuit controlled by said striker, a reciprocable inertia member intermittently driven by said striker, and means controlled by said member for controlling said actuating means to thereby control the frequency of operation of said striker.

17. In a device of the character described the combination of a reciprocable striker, actuating means therefor operable to effect a driving and return stroke of said striker, an electric circuit, means controlled by said striker for closing said circuit for a predetermined momentary time interval, a reciprocable inertia member intermittently driven by said striker, and means controlled by said member for controlling said actuating means to thereby control the frequency of closing of said circuit.

18. In an intermittent charger, the combination of a transformer having a secondary coil and a primary coil, a reciprocable inertia member, power actuated means controlled by 'said member for actuating the same, and means controlled by said last named means for intermittently energizing said primary coil and for setting up high frequency fluctuations therein during each period of energization thereof.

CHARLES GALLOT. ALBERT ALPAUGH. 

